Tahoe Ski Report
irving
would like to convey to all interested parties what it is like there
now. It was RAINING when I arrived but this quickly turned to snow;
about 4 feet of surprisingly good powder fell last week, mainly at
night - we had 2 sunny days, the rest partly cloudy to snowy.
And now for a quick look at the areas we sampled:
Squaw - a zoo on weekends, crowds on the slopes but not at the lifts (why?)
during the week; most slopes were packed powder, with nice
moguls on Headwall, KT-22 and Granite Chief. In balance I'd say
the crowds dissipated my enthusiasm for this place but it was
worth the trip from South Lake Tahoe (beautiful Lake drive on the
way).
Heavenly - I did not like this place, but conditions had a lot to do with it;
it had rained the day before, with low cloud and snow while I skied.
In spite of conditions, the place had LOTS of people, with long
lift lines. Also, some hot runs like 'gunbarrel' were littered with
beginners who were either illiterate or missed the 'expert' signs
at the top. Proximity to casinos is a plus for gamblers or those
seeking an inexpensive show (e.g. great comedy at Caesar's for
no cover and a two-drink ($3 each) minimum).
Kirkwood - There was plenty of powder at this place; deep and ungroomed
on the 'expert' runs. Also for the adventurous there is a nice
area called The Wall which was topped by windswept cornices leading
to a quite exhilarating (though not TOO steep) bowl. The lodge
served great stuff (e.g. plate of overstuffed nachos - enough for
3 or 4 for $4-50 and killer hot drinks for $2 - $3-50). But you'll
definitely need chains to get there when there is snow about.
Sierra Ski Ranch - In spite of warnings this place turned out great; even
on weekends there were few people; intermed and beginner
stuff was well-groomed with a good selection of ungroomed
'expert' runs. Nice view from the top lodge and lift tickets
at $19 were a treat; no booze served here, so alcoholics must
bring their own.
I would not call this a comprehensive review by a competent skier
so please just toss my ideas into the melting pot. And thanks a
million to those of you who gave much valuable advice on touring/
skiing the Tahoe area. It was truly a great trip!
Rich Irving mhuxm!rhib